NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1924, Page 2

NELSON NEWS

(FROM OUE OWN CORRBSBONDENTO NELSON, 28th January. A rather important conference was held this morning at the Municipal Chambers between representatives of the Nelson City Council and the Nelson. Harbour Board, to consider the possibility of providing tepid salt water baths at Port Nelson. The City Council's representatives were the Mayor (Mi\ William Lock) and Councillors Moffatt, Gibbs, aud Edwards; the Harbour Board being I represented by Messrs. H. R. Duncan (chairman), Wash.bou.rn, Jackson, the1 harbourmaster (Captain Collins), arid the board's secretary (Mr. S. F. Sherwood). There were also present ,Messrs. J. G. Littlejohn and Henderson, city and electrical engineers, and the Town Clerk (Mr. G. A. Edmonds). Mr. Duncan, chairman of the Harbour Board-, stated that the board contemplated making a further reclamation on the waterfront of an area, between the electrical powerhouse and the wharves, and it had been suggested that possibly provision could be advantageously made for the baths icn this area, and jthat the hot water •discharged from tJieTpower-Muse could be used. fee understood that -about 16,000 gallons per day were thus discharged, and, if so, it might be found to be a cheap and effective method of producing tepid baths. The questions to be considered would be the practicability of the proposal and also the cost. Mr. Henderson, in answer to questions, said the temperature of the discharge from the pipes was considerably Tiigher than that of the seawater, and it was to be expected that with the heavier winter load at the power-house the temperature would be still higher. The Mayor was o£ opinion that the question of providing fresh-water, baths should also be considered. A general discussion ensued, covering all the questions at issue, such as Sites, cost, accommodation for the public if swimming competitions were held, the possibility of having salt-water baths nearer the town by using the electric power for pumping the water, and heat cheaply produced by having a destructor in the vicinity, prospective revenue, cost of maintenance and upkeep, etc. Quite a number of completed plans, prepared some years ago in connection with loan proposals, that had been submitted and rejected by the ratepayers, were inspected, and a. plan of the Napier saltwater swimming baths was also examined. It appeared that all the proposals involved an expenditure of not less than £10,000, and it was realised that it would be impossible to deal with the matter at so high a cost. T^anous suggestions were made regarding freshwater baths to be located between the Colling wood street and' Normanby bridges, nearness to' the city being desired. To provide them in this locality means laying a pipe line' from above .Nile street bridge to convey the water. The general desire seemed to, be that salt-water baths should be'provided if possible, but there should be an alternative scheme for fresh-water baths. The city engineer wag' of opinion that tepid baths would have to be roofed. After a very lengthy and full" discussion, it was resolved that the matter of planning sa.t-water baths should be left in the hands of Messrs. Littlejohn and Henderson and the harbourmaster, and that of fresh-water baths was left to Mr. Littlejohn. ■ The cost of any of the schemes is not to -exceed £5000. It will bel remembered that as aiT inducement to support the Mardi Gr^s held here in February, last year, any surplus was to have been expended in providing baths; but it- was unfortunate for the proposal that the Mardi Gras enterprise produced nothing but a substantial deficit, which had to be met by the guarantors,. It has been considered for a long time past that it is a reflection on the city that, although there are so many bathing facilities at the nver Maitai and at Tahuna beach ithasno suitable baths for swimming competitions and for the comfort and convenience of visitors to our city. "With, tho progressive -spirit in evidence at present, and' indicated in many other directions, it" is felt that any reasonable proposal submitted will receive substan tial support.